IceHogs News

Winger Derek Nesbitt is one of nine contracted IceHogs skaters to participate in Blackhawks training camp this fall. (Photo by Jim Orlando)

Chicago to open training camp on Sept. 13Rockford, Ill.- With the Rockford IceHogs 11th season just a couple weeks away, the American Hockey League club will have nine players under an AHL contract participating in the 2009 Chicago Blackhawks Training Camp.

The Blackhawks released the training camp roster that includes forwards Bryan Ewing, Justin Hodgman, Bracken Kearns, Derek Nesbitt, Maxime Tanguay, along with defensemen Joe Charlebois, Daryl Boyle, Dave Phillips and goalie Joe Palmer. The roster also features 27 players that have worn an IceHogs sweater over the past two seasons. Overall, 35 of the 59 players expected to attend Hawks camp have ties to the IceHogs.

Ewing, 24, spent most of the 2008-09 season with his hometown team in the ECHL, the Wheeling Nailers. The ECHL All-Star finished second in the league in scoring and led all rookies in point production with 43g-48a-91pts in 67 games. He also made his AHL debut with the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins in 2008-09.

Hodgman, 21, appeared in 66 games with the Erie Otters of the Ontario Hockey League. The Brampton, Ontario, native tallied 66 points (24g-42a) and 71 penalty minutes. He also recorded five points (2g-3a) in six games with the Fort Wayne Komets of the International Hockey League and for the second straight season helped the Komets claim the IHL’s Turner Cup.

Kearns, 28, spent the last two seasons with the Norfolk Admirals. During the 2008-09 campaign, he recorded 22 points (12g-10a) while skating in 53 games. The Vancouver, British Columbia, native has racked up 73 points (32g-41a) in 186 games during four professional seasons including three in the AHL.

Nesbitt, 27, returns to the IceHogs after spending last season with the San Antonio Rampage and Manitoba Moose. The Egmondville, Ontario, native notched 19 points (6g-13a) in 53 games during the 2008-09 campaign. He appeared in 46 games for the IceHogs in 2007-08 finishing with 35 points (17g-18a) plus an addition six points in 12 Calder Cup Playoff games.

Tanguay, 20, participated in training camp for the Blackhawks last season before being re-assigned to the Victoriaville Tigres. His 66 points (26g-40a) during the 2008-09 season led the team and was a new career high for the Lac Etchemin, Quebec, native. The 2009-10 campaign will be Tanguay’s first at the professional. He was a third round (#69 overall) draft pick by the Blackhawks in the 2007 NHL Entry Draft.

Charlebois, 23, joined the IceHogs in 2008-09 after his college career with the University of New Hampshire came to an end. He made his professional debut Feb. 25 at Peoria, appearing in 13 games with Rockford last year. He notched two assists and 15 PIMs. The Potsdam, New York native skated in 127 games with UNH in his four-year career, finishing with three goals, 24 asssits and 161 PIMs.

Boyle, 22, played the entire 2008-09 season with the Norfolk Admirals. While with Norfolk, he tallied 15 points (2g-13a) in 70 games to lead all rookie skaters. Before turning pro, Boyle spent four seasons with the Brandon Wheat Kings of the Western Hockey League. He ranked in the top 20 in scoring among defensemen with 49 points (11g-38a) in 2006-07 and 41 points (10g-31a) in 2007-08.

Phillips, 22, spent all of last season with the Belfast Giants in the Elite Ice Hockey League. The Beverly, England, native notched a career high 35 points (10g-25a) in 71 games. Before joining Belfast, Phillips played in the EIHL with the Hull Stingrays for two years amassing 24 points (5g-19a).

Palmer, 21, completed his third season at The Ohio State University this past spring. The Blackhawks fourth round (#96 overall) pick in the 2006 NHL Entry Draft has appeared in a total of 68 games during his college career with a 25-34-8 record. The Yorkville, New York, native also has two career shutouts with a .889 save percentage and 3.04 goals against average.

Season Ticket Are On Sale: Find a 2009-10 ticket package that works for you, call (815) 847-6399 to speak with an IceHogs season ticket representative. Packages range from five game packages up to full season Arena Club season tickets.